Everyone seeks to ensure a comfortable existence. However, many forget about security. Grounding electric current is one of the most important ways to ensure safety. But does everything need grounding? For example, do you need to ground the washing machine? Let's get it together.
What is grounding?
Those who constantly deal with current know what grounding is. And if a person is faced with this concept for the first time, what to do?
Grounding is the process of connecting electrical circuits of an electrical appliance with power wiring. In this case, even in case of emergency, life-threatening voltage does not appear. Excessive electric current goes to the ground. This is good, for example, with voltage drops.
Many may ask: "Do I need to ground the washing machine in the bathroom?". After all, the technique is new, modern, which means it must be safe. New technologies do not always mean security. When connecting any electrical appliance, attention must be paid to grounding. Hoping that the manufacturer took into account all the nuances, you can harm yourself and your environment. Therefore, it is you who must first think about your safety.
What is it for?
As we already mentioned, you need to ground the equipment so that you will not be shocked. In conditions of high humidity in the bathroom, this is especially true.
If you touch the washing machine during its operation and feel a slight tingling or vibration, this means that a small amount of voltage still seeps through the body. So there is a problem in grounding. It is impossible to put it off in a long box, since the constant contact of electricity and water can lead to irreversible consequences. Ground the washing machine as soon as possible.
Weak tension certainly does not pose a danger, but everything can change at any moment. For example, simultaneous contact with water and a running washing machine can increase the stress passing through a person.
Thus, the answer to the question: “Is it possible to ground the washing machine?”, Will be: “Mandatory.” If you do not want someone from your family members to suffer, then it is better to take time on this issue in time.
Types of grounding
Before you understand how to ground the washing machine, get acquainted with the types of grounding. Traditionally, there are two types: protective and working.
Protective grounding prevents electric shock. For humans, this ensures the safe operation of the washing machine. In addition, this type of grounding protects the equipment from malfunctions and the need for frequent repairs.
Work ground has a secondary function. If the discharge system for some reason fails, then it is replaced by a working ground. With its help, household appliances continue to function normally even with changes in temperature, voltage and system failures. This type of grounding is used in large enterprises where there is high energy consumption.
How to check for grounding?
Before asking the question: “How to ground the washing machine?”, You need to check whether you have it in your apartment. Maybe everything has already been done before you, and you only need to plug the unit into a power outlet. For the reliability of this information, it is better to turn to professional electricians.
You can also verify this yourself. First, turn on, for example, a table lamp in the outlet into which the washing machine will subsequently be connected, and which, as a matter of fact, we check.
So, the lamp is lit - it means the outlet is working. Now turn off the machine in the switchboard, turn off the lamp from the outlet and remove the cover from the outlet.
We check that it is connected to the grounding contact. If one of the terminals, then this is grounding, and if a separate wire - then grounding. If you see that nothing is connected to the contact we need, then the outlet is not grounded at all. We put on the cover and turn on the machine.
Next, we must check whether the grounding is connected correctly, if it is used in the outlet. Using an indicator screwdriver, we check the presence of phase voltage at the contact. If it is, then the outlet can not be used and you need to seek help from specialists.
In the same way, we check the correctness of grounding. Next, using an indicator screwdriver, we find the phase in the outlet. We leave the screwdriver in phase, and remove the finger from the sensor. Press one of the probes of the insulated wire to the sensor. In this case, the lamp will either not light up or light up slightly. The opposite probe of the insulated wire is pressed to the ground electrode. The light will glow brightly if the outlet is really grounded.
Grounding in the apartment
The type of building in which you live depends on how to ground the washing machine in the apartment. For example, in new buildings, the grounding function has already been thought out in advance. Each outlet is equipped with a three-wire cable. That is, you just need to connect your washing machine.
A completely different situation with houses built in the Soviet era. They do not have such a built-in function. Therefore, you yourself must think about ensuring your safety. In this case, it is better to turn to electricians who can easily carry out the grounding procedure.
Variant of execution No. 1
So, if you live in a post-Soviet building, then let's look at how to ground the washing machine, if there is no grounding.
The first method is based on equalization of potentials. Many housewives have a washing machine in the bathroom. In this case, if you simultaneously touch two objects that conduct current, it will pass through your body.
The essence of the potential equation is to connect two current-conducting objects with a metal wire. If you do this, then the current will not pass through you in contact with conductive objects.
To use this method, pliers, a knife, a three-wire wire, a screwdriver with an indicator and an outlet with grounding will be needed from tools.
If you do not even have the slightest understanding in electrics, then it is better to entrust this matter to professionals. But, if you still decided to do the grounding yourself, then you need to install one grounding bus (PE) and one zero (N) in the electrical panel. You can buy them at a store specializing in electrics.
Through these tires will pass all the wiring for household appliances. Then, from the outlet to the washing machine, we lay a three-core cable with a copper section. Now we connect the wires. We attach the blue wire to the zero bus, the red wire through the RCD and the circuit breaker for connecting to the phase wire in the shield, and the yellow or green wire, which is just our ground electrode, we conduct to the ground bus.
Variant of execution No. 2
There is another way that allows you to ground the washing machine in the bathroom. However, this technology has not been applied for a long time, and is even considered illegal. In addition, it is likely that it will be ineffective. For her, it is necessary that all the batteries and pipes in the house be metal, and this is not relevant in our time. But, nevertheless, there is this method, so we will consider it too.
This method can attract you with its simplicity, since you just need to take the ground wire from the device and fix it to the battery or pipe. In this case, the voltage will go to the riser, but when you touch it, you will feel it, so the method is not grounding in fact, all the current remains in the apartment.
Another disadvantage of this method is that you may not even know that your neighbors decided to change pipes or batteries. And because of this, the ground circuit will be interrupted. Moreover, it destroys the pipe itself.
In general, now this method is not used and is dangerous and illegal.
Work rules
- Do not use a pipe for grounding. In Soviet times, electricians always connected the bathroom to the central water supply system. This technology is now banned. Since the pipes tend to wear out and allow leakage, which in turn will entail a serious electric shock during operation of the device.
- If you connected the wires incorrectly, voltage can occur where it should not be. Better trust specialists.
- Central heating is also not suitable for grounding. It has the property of creating condensation or leaking, which will also lead to electric shock when it comes into contact with a washing machine.
- Also, do not forget to re-ground through neutral conductors.
Possible mistakes
To learn how to ground the washing machine correctly, the following errors must be avoided:
- conducting a ground wire to household pipelines;
- the presence of taps from the washing machine to the grounding bar on external areas that are not adapted to this (moisture will cause corrosion, which can lead to ignition of the power cable);
- serial connection of all electrical appliances in the electrical circuit (connecting two or more conductors to one ground electrode system is not allowed);
- Use of unusable, old, or damaged wires.